With the 2013 NHL Draft just around the corner, or at the very least around the bend, players like center J.T. Compher are preparing for the combine. Coming off a very successful silver medal performance in the U-18’s in Russia, he averaged a point-per-game in that tournament and he was one of the catalysts for Team USA.

“We really wanted to win the tournament....We were struggling for a couple of games,” Compher said, noting that finally beating Russia was satisfying.

When the Anaheim Ducks drafted this Pittsburgh native they knew they were getting a solid goalie with the 39th overall pick in 2011. He had a track record winning a gold medal with the U-18 team that winter, plus he was voted the best goaltender in that tournament with a .926 save percentage.

At 5-11, 167 this offensive defenseman out of Margate, Florida (prospects never used to hail from Florida) has once again impressed those who get to see him play and now Team USA coach Phil Housley will have a tough decision to make.

When the final roster is selected will this Flyers draft pick be on it? It’s hard to say but the fact that he scored the game-winner in the first prelim against Sweden, in overtime, was pretty impressive.

Here is the first of a series of articles that will talk about the upcoming World Junior Championships. I broke down what players/teams I liked on our hockey prospect radio show which is on TSN 1050's website.

In the meantime after attending training camp I was very impressed with the way Phil Housley ran things. He had players doing push ups for losing the scrimmage (his version of Herbies) and veteran players like J.T. Miller (Rangers) were having fun, almost loose at times, but that was after the hard drills and the 3-on-3 had ended.

USA Blue Tops Finland; USA White Loses to Sweden
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – USA Blue opened the first day of international play at the 2012 USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp day with a thrilling 5-4 victory over Finland that included a hat trick by Mario Lucia (Plymouth, Minn.). USA White ended the afternoon with a 5-1 loss to Sweden. Both games were held at the Olympic Center's Herb Brooks Arena.